Book support for maintaining the two opened pages of a book in substantially the same horizontal plane



March 5, 1957 EW|NG BOOK SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING THE TWO OPENED PAGES OF A BOOK IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1955 1N VENTOR GEORGE E W/NG ATTORNEY March 5, 1957 I G. EWING 2,783,582

BOOK SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING THE TWO OPENED PAGES OF A BOOK IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1955 A 7 L21 i ,2 l-i 22%; 2

,/aa g: '5 a 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY nite BOOK SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING THE TWO OPENED PAGES OF A BOOK IN SUBSTAN- TIALLY THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE This invention relates to a device for supporting books, and it particularly relates to a device of this type which is capable of supporting the book in level position while open.

It is often difiicult to support an open book, and especially a heavy book such as an unabridged dictionary, in a level position when it is opened to a page to either the front or back of the book. The side with the greater number of pages tends to overbalance the other side resulting in advertent closing of the book or even bending and tearing of both the cover and the pages.

Because of this overbalanced condition, it is often difiicult to read the inner marginal portions of the book since the book as bent tends to cover up these marginal portions. In order to read these marginal portions, it is necessary to laboriously bend back the book making it diflicult and time-consuming to read.

it is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a book support for supporting an open book in a balanced condition at whatever page the book is open to.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a book support for open books which will prevent creasing or tearing of the pages.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved book support, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying the present invention, shown in position wherein it is supporting a book open at the middle.

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, showing the device supporting a book open to a page adjacent the back of the book.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the device of Fig. 4.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a book having a front and back cover 12 and 14, respectively, connected by a web portion 16.

The book 10 is positioned on a book support, generally designated 18, which comprises a pair of spaced, flat plates 20 and 22, each being positioned under the corresponding covers 12 and 14 of the book. The plate 20 is provided with outer brackets 24 and inner brackets 26,

tes atent these brackets being provided at both front and rear. The

plate 22 is also I provided with front and rear inner brackets 28 and front and rear outer brackets 30. Each of the brackets is provided with a pivot pin, as at 32, 34, 36 and 38.

Pivotally connected between each pair of brackets 26 and 30, by means of pivot pins 34 and 38, is an arcuately curved lever 40, while pivotally connected between each pair of brackets 24 and 28, by means of pivot pins 32 and 36, is a similar arcuately curved lever 42. Each pair of levers 40 and 42 are connected by a pivoted link 44.

A post 46 is positioned inwardly of each pair of levers 40 and 42 at a position corresponding to the center of the book. The posts are rigidly supported on the table or other supporting surface indicated at 48. Each of these posts is provided with a roller 50 adapted to rotatably support the web portion 16 of the book.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, when the book is open at the middle, the pivoted levers will be in their neutral, balanced position, as in Fig. 1. But when the book is open to a page near the end, as in Fig. 2, the levers will automatically assume the unbalanced position to compensate for the unbalanced condition of the book. The levers automatically assume whatever position is necessary for each unbalanced position of the book.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein the base is a table comprising a table top 102 mounted on legs 104. A slot 106 is provided in the table top 102, and through this slot extend a pair of guide plates 108. The guide plate 108 is connected, at its upper end, to book support plate 112, and the guide plate 110 is connected to book support plate 114. A link 116 is pivotally connected, at each end, to the bottom ends of guide plates 108 and 110, and a counterbalancing weight 118 is positioned on the link.

The plates 112 and 114 are each provided with depending brackets, as at the front and rear, as at 120 and 122, and a curved lever 124 is pivotally connected between each pair of brackets 120, and 122. A center supporting post 126 having a roller 127, is provided at both front and rear.

The book 128 rests on the plates 112 and 114 and the levers 124 bear against the table top 102 and, by their pivotal action, acting to balance the book in all of its open positions.

By this alternative construction, a stronger support is provided for the book by means of the guide plates 108 and 110. The guide plates also help to balance the book because of the weight 118. However, it has the disadvantage of requiring a specially constructed, slotted table. Such special equipment is not necessary for the first embodiment described since any flat supporting surface would sufiice for that form of the invention.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A book support comprising a pair of flat plates, said plates each having side marginal portions and end marginal portions, arcuate levers pivotally connecting said fiat plates, there being a pair of overlapping levers adjacent each of said side marginal portions, one of each pair of said overlapping levers being connected between that end marginal, portion ofronesplate which is adjacent the other nlateandthat.sndfltnarain ln r ion of ..the other plate,

which is remote from said one plate, and the other of each pair of said overlapping levers being connected between that end marginal portion of said other plate which is adjacent said one plate and that end marginal portion of said one plate which is remote from said other plate, and a connecting link between the levers of each pair, thereby maintaining both flat plates, in parallel planes at all positions of; adjustment.

2. The book support of claim 1 wherein a post is rigidly supported adjacent each pair of levers, said posts each having a roller at the upper end thereof and being positioned to vrotatably support the center. of the book.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,156 Condit et al May 23, 1893 565,583 Wicks Aug. 11, 1896 576,113 Gunn Feb. 2, 1897 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,937 Great Britain 1896 

